Veteran French tennis star Benoit Paire has opened up on the experience of playing closed doors at ATP events in view of the pandemic.

Currently at 29th in the singles rankings, Paire crashed out of the ongoing clay-court event in Chile on Thursday after losing his pre-quarters tie in straight sets to Dane Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune.

Benoit Paire says bubble has made his Tour experience “sad, boring and ridiculous”

Speaking to reporters after his loss, the 31-year-old Frenchman said the punishing protocols and empty stands have reduced tennis to a “tasteless job.”

With several countries, especially in Europe, reporting a surge in COVID-19 cases, both the men’s and women’s tennis bodies have been forced to hold their calendar events behind closed doors or with limited crowds in the interest of player safety.

Trending

Roger Federer Breaks Partnership With Billion Dollar Worth Italian Brand Days After Coco Gauff’s Stunning Commercial Appearance

April 12, 2024 07:23 PM EDT

Bavarian International 2024: Taylor Fritz vs Jack Draper; Preview, Head-to-Head, Prediction

April 19, 2024 03:23 AM EDT

Tennis News: Rafael Nadal Confirms Retirement ; Doping-Banned Mikael Ymer Announces Comeback; Stefanos Tsitsipas Dubbed as Hypocrite

April 15, 2024 06:22 PM EDT

Andy Roddick Hat Tips Serena Williams’ Husband Alexis Ohanian with Ultimate Praise for Women’s Sports’ Skyrocketing Success

April 17, 2024 01:14 PM EDT

‘First Time She’s Taller Than Me’- Serena Williams’ Husband Alexis Ohanian’s Tongue-in-Cheek Humour on Full Display as He Marvels at Wife’s Nike Building

April 19, 2024 05:52 AM EDT

Get instantly notified of the hottest Tennis stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

The protocols, though well-advised and intentioned, have taken away from the joy of playing tennis, according to the Frenchman.

While most fellow professionals on Tour seem to be doing their best to adapt to the new normal, Paire is clearly tiring of it. He said submitting to the raft of rules at Tour events has made the entire experience “sad, boring and ridiculous”.

“Playing in closed-door stadiums with no atmosphere is not what I play tennis for,” the Frenchman said, making his displeasure plain.

(Quotes have been translated with Google Translate)

Paire says he will try to rediscover his love for tennis

Paire was withdrawn from the men’s draw and put into isolation after testing positive for the virus ahead of last year’s US Open.

While one agrees that weeks and months of being in a bubble can add to the mental fatigue of players, who are on the road for the better part of a year, Paire’s brush with COVID only serves to reinforce more than ever why the ATP and WTA insist on making the protocols non-negotiable.

The Frenchman said that though he was struggling to come to terms with the idea of playing closed-door events or without an atmosphere, as he calls it, he will try to make peace with how things are going forward and rediscover the joy of playing tennis.

“I will make the effort to try to just rediscover the pleasure of playing tennis,” Paire said.

‘Mix of Tennis and Lifestyle’: Benoit Paire Makes Major Revelation About 2021 Season

The Frenchman made a first-round exit at this Australian Open after losing in four sets to Belarussian Egor Gerasimov.